John Weiss

    John C. Weiss enjoyed numbers, a skill he developed as a child playing cards with his family and later used when he earned a degree in economics and worked at various companies throughout the area.
    Mr. Weiss, who lived in Port Washington, started his career at Gimbels Department Store in Milwaukee, then went to work at Taylor Electric Corp. in Mequon and later at Bolens Corp. in Port Washington, where he worked for 19 years.
    When Bolens closed, Mr. Weiss worked as a paralegal and financial advisor.
    Mr. Weiss died of complications of a stroke at Heritage Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Port Washington on Saturday, Sept. 22. He was 80.
    Mr. Weiss was a native of Sparta, born on June 16, 1938, to Carl and Mernie Day Weiss.
    He graduated from Tomah High School in 1956, then earned a degree in economics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
    He was in Navy ROTC for two years and finished his military obligation by serving in the U.S. Army.
Mr. Weiss married Mary Jane Jannsen in Caledonia, Minn., on June 26, 1965.

The couple settled in Port Washington in 1968.

Mr. Weiss was a caring man who enjoyed bowling, fishing and playing cards, particularly sheepshead, bridge and pinochle.

He also liked to solve crossword puzzles and work on his computer.

After he retired, Mr. Weiss took art lessons and discovered he had a talent for painting, his wife said.

“He was pretty good at it,” she said, noting he especially enjoyed making acrylic paintings of landscapes and waterscapes.

The couple enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and visited Germany.

Mr. Weiss was a former member of the Port Washington Jaycees and was an avid UW-Madison Badgers and Green Bay Packers fan.

“At one time, he was a Bears fan, but he has been a Packers fan for some time,” his wife said.

Mr. Weiss also enjoyed following his grandchildren’s activities.

Mr. Weiss is survived by his wife Mary Jane of Port Washington; children Jeffrey (Gladys) of Sheboygan, Monica (Joe Hodkiewicz) Weiss of Verona and Paul (Paula) of Elkhart Lake; and seven grandchildren.

He is also survived by his siblings Maxine (Michael) Keppler of Kiel, Roger (Diane) Weiss of Tomah and Carol Baumgarten of Sparta.

Mr. Weiss was preceded in death by his son Richard, parents Carl and Mernie and in-laws John and Mary Jannsen.

A funeral service for Mr. Weiss will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 27, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grafton. The Rev. Luke Anderson will officiate.

Visitation will be at the church Thursday from 4 p.m. until the service.

Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Port Washington.

In lieu of flowers, memorials to the American Heart Association or a charity of the donor’s choice are suggested.

Funeral arrangements are being handled through Eernisse Funeral Home, Port Washington.